The Dolomites in Italy are still having a moment. Having trended across many of the must-see travel destinations in 2025, the mountains will also co-host the 2026 Winter Olympic Games, taking place next February, and early indications from Visa Consulting and Analytics suggest bookings are up by as much as 160% from last winter.
The Dolomites Are Co-Hosting The 2026 Winter Olympics, And Bookings Are Up
During February and March, Milan and the resort of Cortina d’Ampezzo, roughly 250 miles away, will host the games, covering an area of over 8,500 square miles where the events will take place. And as National Geographic says, it’s these unique mountains that will take centre stage. Much as the city of Paris did during the Summer Olympics of 2024.
New data from Visa Consulting and Analytics (VCA) shows that the region is benefitting in the same way that Paris did—flight bookings are up 160% from last winter—the bulk of these visitors flying in from the U.S., the U.K., and Canada. Visa has been an official partner of the Olympics for 40 years and reports that the largest share of ticket spend for Visa purchases has come from U.S. travelers, followed by Germany, Canada, Switzerland, the U.K., and France. Currently, Australians are spending the most on their cards, followed by Canada, the U.S., and the Netherlands.
Where Are The Dolomites?
The Dolomites are a sub-range of the Alps in the northeast of Italy, but they have a unique geology. The Dolomites are formed from pale gray, jagged mineral rock that UNESCO declared a World Heritage Site 10 years ago, because of its exceptional natural beauty and unique geomorphology. There are eighteen of these beautiful peaks in the north of Italy, characterized by sheer vertical cliffs and long, narrow valleys.
This time, the Winter Olympics will have a new discipline making its way through these exceptional alpine passes: ski mountaineering, also known as uphill skiing or ‘skimo’, which literally involves sprinting up the mountain slope, some of the time wearing skis with ‘skins’ on that provide enough traction to climb, and then skiing back down again.
What To Do In The Dolomites?
The resort of Cortina d’Ampezzo and 11 neighbouring towns in the Dolomites form the Dolomiti Superski, the largest ski area in the world, which in winter connects 450 lifts under the same ski pass and in the summer transforms into 6,200 miles of hiking trails and 250 miles of bike paths.
From a tourist perspective, there’s something for everyone. The resort of Arabba, because of its situation at 2,511 meters above sea level, is a favorite for fans of glacier skiing. Or head to Castelrotto for Europe’s largest alpine meadow. If you’re a food fan, the resort of Alta Badia’s restaurants has one Michelin star for each of its 172 residents. Plus, there are seven nature parks in the region.
The Dolomites are also home to the 105-mile Camino Retico hiking path that meanders its way through alpine villages, mountain lakes, and ancient Rhaetian history. The Rhaetian people were the Alpine tribal groups that lived in parts of Switzerland, Austria, and north-eastern Italy in the pre-Roman era.